Peanut Festivals

National and regional peanut festivals celebrate the importance of goobers to community, commerce, and culture.

USA

Alabama

Dothan, AL- The 73rd National Pea-nut Festival is November 4th through November 13th, 2016.

Wooden nickels were used to promote the first National P-Nut Festival in 1938. Secretary of Dothan Chamber of Commerce, Harry Hall, said "Money may not grow on trees but our wooden nickels backed by the peanut harvest is evidence that truth is stranger than fiction for everywhere around Dothan you can spend this unusual money".

The Crenshaw County Shriners have hosted the annual Peanut Boil in Luverne for the past 40 years. Hundreds of volunteers boil and sell about 60,000 pounds of peanuts as a fundraiser for Shiner's Burn Centers. This is the largest peanut boil in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

The annual festival has arts and crafts, live music, children's rides, games, antique tractors and cars. There is always a variety of vendor foods at the festival, especially peanuts - roasted, boiled, fried, and baked. The Little Peanut King and Queen, and Baby Peanut contests are popular Central Florida Harvest, and Peanut festival events. This family oriented event draws more than 9,000 people annually.

The 26th Brooklet p-nut festival was held August 15, 2015. Brooklet is located in Southeast Georgia, about 45 minutes from Savannah. Day long events include a peanut run, parade, arts and crafts, food vendors, free entertainment, and street dance.

The 19th annual Plains Peanut Festival on September 26, 2015, kicked off with a 1 mile fun run, and 5k road race, followed by the downtown parade, arts and crafts vendors. Educational exhibits highlighted the importance of agriculture to the Sumter County community.

North Carolina

The 8th annual Fountain Peanut Festival was August 14th and 15th, 2015. Celebrating community and the end of summer, the eastern North Carolina festival attracts about 10,000 people per year. The festival features live music, arts and crafts, a variety of foods, entertainers, and amusement rides.

New Mexico

The 42nd annual Peanut Valley Festival in Portales was held October 17th, and 18th, 2015. The festival took place at the Roosevelt County Fairgrounds in conjunction with the High Plains Quilt Festival. Many people don't think of New Mexico as peanut country but 80% of Valencia peanuts grown in the USA come from this region. This video covers Valencia peanut harvesting, processing, roasting, inspection by New Mexico Department of Agriculture, and products made with Valencia peanuts. Most of the region's Valencia peanuts are sent to the Sunland Peanut plant in Portales.

South Carolina

Founded in 2008, the Palmetto Peanut Boil competition celebrates food, friends and fun. All proceeds benefit the Brent Davis Foundation for the Ronald McDonald House Charities®, and the Animal Mission. The 8th annual Palmetto Peanut Boil was held October 24th, 2015, on the 2800 Block of Devine Street, Columbia, South Carolina.

Pelion, SC - South Carolina Peanut Party
The 35th annual South Carolina Peanut Party is August 12th, and 13th, 2016 at the Pelion Community Club, 951 Pine Street. The Peanut Party grand opening begins with the blessing of the pots by the local clergy. Events include a car show, dog show, library book sale, arts and crafts, peanut party parade, softball tournament, live music, and a PB&J eating contest.

Boiled peanuts are South Carolina's official state snack food. This WLTX TV video shows how Mayor Charlie Haggard has boiled peanuts at the party for 29 years.

Charlie boils the green peanuts in plain water for about 2 1/2 hours, then soaks them in a salt water bath for 2 1/2 hours.

The South Carolina Peanut Party has been going Nuts over Boiled Peanuts for 29 years. The Peanut Party has the South Carolina Peanut Princess Pageant, live Gospel music, Parade, Carnival Rides and Boiled Peanuts.

Up to 130 bushels of peanuts are boiled in huge pots near the community center by the Pelion Ruritan club members and families. That's a lot of peanuts!

Texas

Floresville, TX The 72nd annual Pea-nut Festival is October 4th, 6th, and 7th, 2016 in downtown Floresville, around the Courthouse Square.

"The crowd brings chairs, and blankets, finding their special spot on the hillside together with family, and friends. Dancers, young and old, enjoy the music, and fellowship during this family oriented the event."

The following day the parade traveled along Main Street with several high school bands, local favorites, and other fun entries.

October 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th, 2016 is the 39th anniversary of Suffolk, Virginia’s premier festival. This family event honors the city’s agriculture heritage, and devotion to peanuts. The 2016 Peanut Festival features concerts, amusement rides, contests and competitions, a demolition derby, a truck and tractor pull, motorcycle rally, and fireworks. As many as 125,000 people attend the 4 day event in Suffolk.Suffolk Ruritan Shrimp Feast is a traditional kick-off activity held at the festival. Upwards of 5,000 people enjoyed all they can eat steamed shrimp, barbecue, chicken, coleslaw, baked beans, and rolls.

The 41st annual event at Chippokes Plantation State Park Surry County, Virginia is July 16th & 17th, 2016. Entertainment on the River Road Stage includes a parade, petting zoo, arts and crafts vendors, food concessions, gas and steam engine show, and live entertainment.
Enter the 7th Annual BBQ Cookoff.

India

The groundnut festival in Bangalore must the oldest annual peanut festival in the world, having started in the 16th century. "This annual peanut festival predates the founding of the city of Bengaluru."

Peanuts are always in demand at Subbamma's Basavangudi, Bangalore. This peanut stand was founded in 1947 by the grandmother of the present owner.Search Boiled Peanut World here.